BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of May 22, 2007

 

A special meeting was held at 9:50 a.m. on Monday, May 21, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 9:50 a.m. until 10:20 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board discussed de-designation of the Human Services Council as the Southwest Area Agency on Aging (SWAAA).  Commissioner Tolfree explained issues of concern by the State and advised that SWAAA supports de-designation.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a letter to Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams of the Department of Social and Health Services supporting de-designation of the Human Services Council.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Monday, May 21, 2007 and reconvened at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss surplus of vehicle #726, request from Fire District #2 to purchase vehicle #726, and the North Bonneville industrial property, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Mary Repar advised of questions regarding consent agenda item #6 designating Skamania County Economic Development Council as the Associate Development Organization to coordinate economic development services for Skamania County under contract with the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows, with the exception of item #6 that was removed:

1.       Minutes for week of May 15, 2007.

2.       Liquor license new application for Wind Mountain.

3.       Contract with Washington State Patrol to provide funding for domestic marijuana eradication/suppression program.

4.       Memorandum of Understanding & membership agreement with WA State Association of Counties to provide a financial incentive for good safety practices, effective claims management, & programs that return workers to productive employment.

5.       Approve surplus of recommended tire list, authorize ER&R manager to sell as one tire package, and notify all county departments and junior taxing districts of the surplus tires available for purchase.

6.       Designation of Skamania County Economic Development Council as the Associate Development Organization to coordinate economic development services for Skamania County under contract with the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of the following proposals for Agency Representation for Group Health Insurance and Related Benefits and forward to the Administrative Services Director for review and recommendation:

1.       Ameriplan Health, St Louis, MO

2.       BCI Group, Portland, OR

3.       Berg Andonian Employee Benefits, Inc, Gig Harbor, WA

4.       FCG Benefits, Yakima, WA

5.       Mercer Health & Benefits, Portland, OR

6.       Erven Suddock & Bong, Edmonds, WA

7.       Gallagher Reppond, Bellevue, WA

 

Larry Douglass, Interim Public Works Director reported on the Rock Creek Slide, personnel, McQueen Road vacation request, engineering projects, County Road projects, ER&R, Solid Waste, and Building Department.

 

Following discussion, Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to designate Skamania County Economic Development Council as the Associate Development Organization to coordinate economic development services for Skamania County under contract with the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge the submission of letters to President George W. Bush from Commissioners Pearce and Tolfree urging the President to withdraw his Administration’s opposition to the Senate’s proposed five year full funding of the payments in Lieu of Taxes program and reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 and reconvened at 10:55 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve a Criminal Justice Treatment Account grant application for Crossroads Behavioral Health.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Central Services to discuss computer replacements, future replacement schedules, and funding, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to authorize Central Services to purchase 83 new computers with four-year maintenance, and a four-year replacement cycle.

 

Dolores Morgan, Interim Counseling Center Director reported on mental health, grant funding for Crossroads Behavioral Health, and the Human Services Advisory Council.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously that, upon delivery of the replacement for vehicle #726, the Board declares vehicle #726 surplus and offers the sale of vehicle #726 to Fire District #2 for the amount of $6,500.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public meeting was held to review the Swift Subarea project timeline and the moratorium on the acceptance and processing of land divisions creating lots of less than 10 acres, on the construction/placement of more than one single-family dwelling per legal lot of record, and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act checklists related to forest practice conversions for any parcel located within the area generally known as the Swift Subarea of Skamania County.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director gave an overview of the moratorium and the County Comprehensive Plan, including Critical Area guidance, and Swift Subarea Plan timeline.  Comments from the public included encouragement of the moratorium until the entire Comprehensive Plan and Critical Areas process is completed, and a request that the moratorium be lifted when the Swift Subarea Plan is completed.  No action was taken as a result of the meeting.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 and reconvened at 2:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to direct that unauthorized monies issued to elected officials as payment of vehicle allowance be recovered and returned to the appropriate funds.

 

The Board discussed a request from Ivan Howell and Eran Howell to purchase a portion of county owned property, tax parcel 03-08-35-0-0-0300-00, located in Home Valley, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to authorize Commissioner Tolfree to send a letter on behalf of the Board to the City of North Bonneville urging the City to retain the optional 2% lodging tax currently levied on hospitality businesses in North Bonneville.

 

The Board discussed a request from WSU Cooperative Extension for a copy machine, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:10 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 and reconvened at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss the Rock Creek Slide, Rock Creek timber removal, Salmon Falls Park and Ride, draft Private Road Ordinance, and personnel, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve core sampling at the Rock Creek Slide area under the Emergency Declaration at the direction of the Interim Public Works Director.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to authorize Public Works to fill the vacant Technician III position.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss Swift Area moratorium and boundary line adjustment for Conservation, Comprehensive Plan update, Recreation Resort Gorge Commission workshop, and the Rock Creek Slide area/short plats, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss architect building reviews for the Courthouse and Rock Creek Community Services Center, kitchen dedication at the Fairgrounds, and the Underwood Community Center, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2007 and reconvened at 9:50 a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss federal forest payments to counties and schools and the Public Development Authority/Wind River site, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending May 24, 2007 in the total amount of $132,094.83.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve an interagency agreement with the Department of Ecology for funding for the Community Litter Cleanup Program.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2007 and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from April 24, 2007, to consider Ordinance 2007-06 amending Skamania County Code Title 10 Traffic, Chapter 10.04.030 Speed Limits by revising speed limits on Cook-Underwood Road.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge written comments from residents of the Mill A/Willard community opposing the proposed speed limit change.  Larry Douglass, Interim Public Works Director gave an update on the Safe Speed Study and Road Sign Evaluation performed for the Cook-Underwood Road that identified conditions that warranted speed limit revisions.  Following discussion regarding written comments received from the public, Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to not approve the Ordinance changing speed limits on Cook-Underwood Road.

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON